The Houston Dash acquired defender Abby Dahlkemper through a trade with North Carolina Courage, the clubs announced today. The Dash sent $25,000 in Allocation Money along with additional performance-based incentives to North Carolina in the trade.
Dahlkemper returns to the NWSL after spending the 2020-21 season with Manchester City WFC, where she finished with eight appearances. Prior to her time at Manchester, Dahlkemper spent four seasons with the Courage, where she earned 67 appearances and helped lead the club to three consecutive NWSL Shields from 2017-2019 and two NWSL Championships in 2018 and 2019. The defender has earned three Best XI honors from 2017-2019 and was named the 2017 Defender of the Year.
“I’m very excited that we have been able to add a player of Abby’s quality to our roster as we embark on our push for the playoffs,” said Dash head coach James Clarkson. “Her experience, winning attitude and personality brings a great deal to the Club on and off the field.”
The Menlo Park, California native brings extensive experience at the international level, where she has 79 caps for the U.S. Women’s National Team and helped lead the program to a bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 28-year-old also won the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup with the USWNT and featured in the 2-0 victory over Netherlands in the tournament final.
The center back began her professional career in 2015 with the NWSL’s Western New York Flash, featuring as part of the starting XI in all 20 of her appearances in her rookie season. In addition to Western New York, North Carolina, and Manchester, Dahlkemper has also played for Adelaide United in Australia’s W-League.
Dahlkemper enjoyed a decorated four-year collegiate career at the University of California, Los Angeles from 2011 to 2014 earning four NSCAA All-American selections. In 2013, Dahlkemper helped lead UCLA to the NCAA championship.
With the addition of Dahlkemper, the Dash now have 28 players on the active roster.
